Best status tax help providers in Houston? The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) reports that more than 80 million taxpayers use paid professionals to complete and submit their tax returns.1? If you’re one of these individuals, it is important to organize your receipts, forms and other documents well before tax time. Your preparer may take information directly from you or ask you to complete a questionnaire. Either way, you’ll need time to gather everything you—and your preparer—will need. Here are the steps to take.
The SECURE Act, which became law at the end of 2019, includes several provisions that apply to high income earners. They include: The age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from retirement plan accounts was raised to 72. However, if you turned 70 1/2 in 2019, you will be required to take a disbursement in 2020. Eliminating the age limit for contributions to Traditional IRA accounts. Increasing annual contribution limits for 401(k) and 103(b) accounts to $19,500, and to $13,400 for SIMPLE IRAs. The contribution maximum for Traditional and Roth IRAs remains at $6,000 per year. Increasing the Social Security wage base to $137,700. Increasing the income ceiling for Roth IRAs. Contributions now phase out at $124,000 and $139,000 of modified adjusted gross income. ($196,000 to $206,000 if you’re married filing jointly.) Increasing limits for long-term care premium deductions to $5,430 per person for people age 71 or over, and to $4,3500 for people between the ages of 61 and 70. Self-employed earners may write off 100% of their premiums using Schedule 1 of the 1040 form. These changes are significant because they make it possible for high income earners to make additional contributions to a retirement plan during the tax year.
Bunch Your Charitable Contributions: In 2019, married couples filing jointly have a standard deduction of $24,400. For single taxpayers, the standard deduction is $12,200. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which nearly doubled the standard deduction, also eliminated miscellaneous deductions, capped state and local tax deductions at $10,000 and limited mortgage interest deductions to loans of up to $750,000. These changes can make it difficult to itemize deductions unless someone has significant charitable donations. Powell suggests people bunch two years of contributions into a single year, which would allow them to claim an itemized deduction every other year. For those with the financial means, setting up a donor-advised fund may be ideal. “You get the deduction in the year you move the money (into the fund),” Powell says. However, charitable gifts from the fund can be spread out over time.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created the Qualified Business Income (QBI) deduction when the law went into effect in 2018. You might be able to deduct 20% from your qualifying business income if your business is a pass-through entity—a sole proprietorship, an S corporation, or a partnership, passing its income and deductions down to its shareholders, partners, or owners to report on their personal returns. This deduction is in addition to claiming your ordinary business expense deductions. You should qualify if your taxable income is below $157,500, or $315,000 if you’re married and filing a joint return. Special rules apply if you earn more than these amounts, so you might still qualify depending on the nature of your business. See even more information at here.
Document Everything. While talking to the customer about the outstanding debt, take careful notes about everything that was discussed, including the customer’s comments in case there is a future debt dispute. If your company has tracking software, input everything into the system while the conversation is fresh in your mind. Over time, continue to add any additional details to your file to keep it as up-to-date as possible. Debt collections are common, especially in difficult economic times. Using these collection techniques should increase your odds of success. But, if all this effort doesn’t result in getting paid, you may want to use the services of a reputable collection agency.
It’s much easier to sort through everything now than when 2019 is a distant memory. In fact, reviewing and organizing your records monthly helps spread the workload throughout the year instead of cramming it all into a year-end rush. Take time to go through any forms you’ve already filed (like Form 941) to check for accuracy. Make sure to confirm EIN numbers, social security numbers, and anything else the IRS might use to identify you or your employees. And when you’re done, move all your forms, invoices, and receipts into the same place — whether it’s online or a in physical folder — so you’ll be ready for tax time.